Controversial Oklahoma bill would block cities from banning pet stores
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Animal welfare advocates are raising concern about a bill at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
House Bill 1421 would only allow the state government to make rules about banning pet stores like Petland, not the local government.
'We do not want these type of operations in our state, let alone our communities. And we certainly don't want out-of-state corporate puppy mills telling us how to regulate our local municipalities,' said Katie Hawk, co-founder of Good Dogma.
It's personal for Hawk; she helped get an ordinance passed in 2021 banning the retail sale of dogs and cats in Midwest City that come from breeders.
This bill would undo that.
'Our local rescues are full, our local shelters are full. We do not have the capacity to manage more pets in our community, let alone sick pets from Petland,' said Hawk.
We reached out to Petland, but didn't hear back.
The Pet Advocacy Network has hired an instate lobbyist to support the passage of House Bill 1482.
'Local governments can still regulate, inspect and set high standards, just not erase these businesses entirely,' said Ashley Brinkman, government affairs director for Pet Advocacy Network.
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They believe bans like Midwest City's don't work, bringing up a similar state-level ban in California.
'To this day, not one puppy mill has been shut down. Their shelters are just as overcrowded and overpopulated,' said Brinkman.
Brinkman says there has also been a rise in puppy scams. Another reason behind this push is for consumer choice.
'Local pet sale bans in this way eliminate the only trusted brick and mortar sources that many families have for finding a pet,' said Brinkman.
While others say there are plenty of pets at the shelter.
'There are designer breeds, there are mutts, there's a little bit of everything at the shelters and they all have just as much of a big loving heart and goofy soul as the ones that are at these designer puppy mills,' said Hawk.
Hawk says there is also a public health risk.
'Sick animals have brought home contagious infections that have been contracted by their new owners who were then hospitalized,' said Hawk
Representative Josh West (R-Tulsa) co authored this bill with Senator Grant Green (R-Wellston). We reached out to both and they declined to comment.
Those against the bill encourage you to reach out to them and share your concerns.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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